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Biological Responses of Young Rats Fed Diets Containing Genistin and Genistein^{1, 2,}

School of Home Economics, The Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina

Young male rats were fed diets containing 0.1 and 0.5% of genistin or genistein for 4 weeks to determine the effects of these plant estrogens on weight gain, on the development of the adrenals, kidneys, spleens and testes and on certain aspects of the metabolism of copper, iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. A dietary level of 0.5% of genistin or genistein resulted in significant decreases in weight gain and in the weights of the kidneys and spleens. Rats fed diets containing either plant estrogen had liver and spleen iron levels that were significantly higher than those of the controls, but hemoglobin and tissue copper levels were not affected by the feeding of either genistin or genistein. Levels of zinc in the bones and livers of the estrogen-fed rats were higher than the corresponding zinc levels of the controls. Genistin and genistein enhanced the deposition of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the bones of young rats. Bone Ca/P ratios were lower in the animals receiving diets containing the plant estrogens.

² Supported in part with a grant from The Woman's College Research Council.

Manuscript received 19 December 1962.